The Forgotten Zodiac

"Do not speak, child of Shadow," she said, waving an arm delicately at the demon, which screamed and retreated at once back to Cynyr, who was still and silent. His entire body was rigid, his gaze locked on the floor. All but dead, or nearing such a point.

The Goddess crouched in front of Forin, flicking her fingers once at him. The wounds closed at once, and the woman tilted her head, blinking curiously at the Tartaran.

Forin rolled onto his back, feeling the broken ribs reform and cuts heal instantly. With a rush, his lungs filled with air again and he could once more feel his legs. The only thing on his mind, though, was getting as far away from Cynyr as possible. Cyprus, who had followed the Goddess, unlocked the door. Forin practically fell on Aveta, hugging her tightly. "How did you...what--" He pulled away, looking at her. And finally, his senses picked it up. This was not the Luna he knew. Instantly, anger and confusion filled him to the brim. "Who are you? What have you done with her?" He demanded, taking a step back. He broke for the exit, but Cyprus stopped him.

"Forin, wait!" The Demigod pulled on his arm. "Don't just run off without letting her explain!"

"Peace, Tartaran," she said gently, yet firmly. "If you must know, I am the creator of all worlds, the giver of life, and the one who created those who created you. From a merest thought I birthed Titus, Galai, Cyprus, and all other who call themselves God or Demigod, King or Queen. Naybrin, most powerful of all Kings, was born of a single tear. I know each and everything there is to know about you, about Diana, about the kirin Luen, about Luna and Allie, Werr and Welk, even Cynyr, who lays all but dead before me. I am Aveta, Goddess. Nothing more need be said, save for the fact that I do understand an explanation is due to you, for Luna is dear to your heart. Luna is me, child, and I am her. She is my reincarnation. She is like me in looks, in grace, and in mind. She was born for this sole purpose of finally breeching the gap that stretched between my and my mortal subjects. At last, thanks to her, I am able to truly return, to reestablish the connections that before were non-existant."

((OH MY GOSH WE FORGOT VORPAL

Our last line with him was waaaay back when they first got Diana back from Remor! oDo WHAT DO?

Okayokay. W-we can say something perhaps how he slipped into a state of unconsciousness, perhaps, that rendered him nothing but a normal sword this entire time? And Forin's left him alone, because he doesn't know what to do? ACK. -flips the tables-))

((UH

UH

UH

I DUNNO))

Forin stared for a good long while, then he swallowed hard. Ever the arrogant one, he didn't kneel or bow to the Goddess. "So...you...will Luna still be...Luna?" He asked, frowning deeply. "I don't...I don't understand. Why Luna? She's my...she's mine, you can't just take her away from me!" He pulled away from Cyprus, taking a step closer to Aveta. "It might seem arrogant, but if you already know me, then you'll know I won't just accept you taking her away from me. I won't let you."

Aveta tilted her head, her expression become a bit gentler. "I know. But I ask, for the good of the world and all who live in it, that you try to understand. Luna was born for this purpose. Even when I return to the Heavens in a moment, she will be left behind as a connection to me. She is now, quite literally, a sort of...mini-Goddess. This is her purpose, and I would ask, for the sake of everyone else, that you would help protect her."

"I don't...I don't understand," Forin growled. "You haven't answered me! After you leave her, when you're done using her like a puppet, will she still be Luna? Or have you done away with who she is like garbage?!" He demanded, bringing his face close to hers. "I'm not protecting something that destroyed one of few things I love in this world!"

Immediately, power like he had never felt in his life crushed down upon him, sending him to the ground without a hope of defending himself. He couldn't even lift himself on his elbows, nor hardly think or feel anything other than power. When she released him, she hadn't moved a muscle, and her expression was stonily neutral.

"Do not test me, boy. Your life-force was given by my grace; by my wraith, I can remove it."

Forin lay there on the ground, panting slightly. He shakily pushed himself up on his hand, grasping the hem of Aveta's tunic with the other. The move had only filled him with unbridled rage. "ANSWER ME!" He roared, making a move like he was going to punch her. Cyprus intervened, kicking Forin in the gut and watching him roll off and away from her.

"Please stop. You'll only get hurt." The demigod whimpered quietly.

"Do you thi-think I care?!" Forin snarled, grabbing onto the Goddess' clothes again. "Give her back...give her back to me, you monster, or I'll--" He stopped himself short as Cyprus brought his foot down on his hand. There was an obvious crack, and Forin recoiled sharply, though his glare only intensified.

"I'll not let you lay another finger on her. Pursuit of this will lead to nothing but your death." Cyprus said, firmly this time.

The Goddess, again, hadn't moved an inch against Forin's assault. She simply stood, well aware that Cyprus would defend her, and knowing that to move would mean Forin's death. "I am disappointed in you, Tartaran, but I also understand how you feel. I cannot promise that Luna will remain untainted by my presence, even after I am finished with her completely. What is happening here is something that has never been witnessed before in the entirety of the world's creation; the Goddess descending to mortal form. Even I, who created all life, cannot begin to understand what could happen. ...I am sorry, though..."

Such remose was held in her voice, her eyes softening to the point of tears. Even now, the snapped bones in Forin's hand were healed completely, as if they had never been broken.

"So you...you would destroy my better half...instead of just making yourself a body from scratch, you use my girlfriend, and you can't even tell me if she'll be okay or not?" Forin heaved himself to his feet again, still holding his hand, though the break had been fixed. "I won't just accept that...I can't. You can't do this to me...you can't do this to her!" He moved forward again, but not in a hostile way. He wound up hugging Aveta, tears streaming down his cheeks. His voice trembled, but no longer with fury. Fear, worry, sorrow. "You can't...please..."

Her voice was soft, kind, and loving. So utterly like Luna's that it was nearly painful. "There are limits and things that must not be done, even as a Goddess. I wouldn't be able to make myself a body, for I fear I couldn't destroy it. When two things of opposing but equal might meet in a clash, the outcome could potentially be catastrophic. Especially when that power is Divine Force. A normal form also couldn't survive the impact of power. Luna's the only one that can. ...I'm sorry." She stroked his hair gently, then tilted her head.

"I know the answer to this already, but...do you happen to know where Vorpal is?"

Forin pulled away, letting out a sigh as he reached for the scabbard at his hip. He looked so depressed, it would have made Diana cry to see. "I don't know who that is. He a new Tartaran or something? Sounds like a Tartaran name..." He rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head slightly as he moved towards the stairs. "You can't distract me from what you've done, Goddess...I'll find some way...to..." He trailed off, not even sure what he could do.

((This is totally going to drive him against the Goddess. You realized that, right? Another falls to Veros' clutches.))

"Curious. So his power truly..." She trailed off, blinking a few times, then said "So he's even begun to tamper with memories..." She shook her head, then said "Forin, Veros has stolen from you. There was something dear and close to you that he's 'liberated' from your hold, altering your memories so it were as if Vorpal did not exist." She held a hand out, flicked one finger, and Forin remembered.

Veros had taken Vorpal. He had replaced all of Forin's memories of the little weapon imp with a fake sword that held no life. With this intact, Forin now realized that he had lost Vorpal...

...back when they had rescued Diana and Seria from Remor.

Forin stopped on the stairs, dropping onto one knee. "How...he..." He picked himself up again and darted up the stairs, gone quicker than Cyprus could blink.

"Are you...sure he'll be okay? I don't think that made him any happier..." Cyprus frowned, concerned. "I could sense his hate..."

"I could as well," she said softly. "But there's nothing to be done about it. What he chooses to do now is his decision alone." She sighed, then turned away. "I need to return skyward. Remember, Cyprus, you must watch Luna for me." She walked away slowly, head bowed sadly, Luna's long silver hair covering her expression from sight.

"Yes," Cyprus followed, quite happy to follow his orders. Protect Luna, ensure the connection remained intact. Simple.

Not ten minutes later, Forin found himself staring up at the sky through the broken branches of a rosebush. The thorns dug into his skin here and there, but he felt much worse than that. His right leg was broken. The other ankle felt sprained. How the heck had he wound up here...?

The balcony. Forin remembered. He hadn't felt like returning to Diana and Luen just yet. He needed time to sort out his thoughts. So he had gone to the balcony. From there, he had been intending to climb up onto the roof, the best place to go to be alone. But something had caused him to slip...how long ago had that been? Only a few seconds, surely...because the thing that had caused him to fall landed next to him, smirking.

"Look at you," Veros grinned, his smile cruel. On Nate's face, it just looked...wrong. "Trapped between two powers. You hate her more than you hate me!"

"Give...him...ba-back..." Forin tried to push himself upright, fury in his gaze again.

"Hm, let me think. No." Veros sneered. "But what are you going to do, small-fry? You can't attack the Goddess. You can't attack me, either. Even if you weren't all broken and mangled...you know as well as I do that I can easily destroy you. So...what are you going to do?"

"Can't...can't do...anything..." Forin stared at the Titan with pure hatred.

"Very good." Veros grinned. Forin reeled back when Nate reached out to touch his forehead. But there was no use in trying to avoid it; Forin passed out, and when he opened his eyes again, Luen was standing over him.

"Forin!" the kirin exclaimed, kneeling on one leg as he gently placed a hand on the Tartaran's shoulder. "Wh-what happened? I walk outside to look for you and I find you...like this!" The sheer concern in his friend's voice was touching, but Forin wasn't in a mood for such. Luen shifted forms and offered his sturdy antlers for his friend to help him up, gently managing to hook a few times around the Tartaran's back and shoulder.

"Just...help me get to a healer," Forin muttered, shaking his head. "It was Veros. He's still lingering around..."

"Oh no...he beat you up...?" Diana whimpered, sticking close to Luen's front legs.

"Not really. He made me fall." Forin shrugged, limping along with Luen's help. "Just get me to a healer." He said again, as if they weren't moving fast enough for his liking.

Luen blinked, giving a rather nervous nod and moving a bit faster, trying to keep up with the pace Forin obviously wanted. They reached the infirmary not long after, and Luen called for Airlia. He didn't want to stress Seria out; every day that passed for her was a day closer to her due date. The kirin helped gently lift Forin onto the bed, then stood quietly by with Diana, head tilted in concern.

Forin gave his thanks to Airlia once she was done. It took a few long minutes, but he was as good as new before long. After that, he led Luen away, leaving Diana with Airlia and Seria to play for a little bit. They only got a little ways down the hall before Forin wrapped his arms around Luen's neck, resting his head against his friend's shoulder. "I...I can't do anything. I can't...Luna is...she's gone...the Goddess destroyed her...I-I....I can't do anything..."